My next game: Epeiros as Pergamon

[Timoleon]

Celto-Hellenics are the mainstay of my line, they flank the hoplites in the centre. I can recruit them in Nikaia as well as Tylis. Should I be thinking about replacing my hoplites with them instead?

From a historical point of view, they suit your armies better, but they are clearly inferior to classical hoplites in holding the line. Maybe you're right, classical hoplites is a compromise you are forced to make.

I'm looking forward to being able to recruit Agrianians soon.

They aren't to hold the main battle line either. They are good flankers, though. but not as good as Thraikioi Rhomphaiaphoroi! You should really try them.

[QuintusSertorius]

I did mean Argrianians as flankers, rather than holding the line. I'll get falx-men at the same time, I remember those were painful to deal with whenever I fought the Getai in my Roman campaign. Should be useful against the later Seleukid lineup.

I might actually try a custom battle with Theurophoroi in place of the hoplites and see what happens.

[QuintusSertorius]

By 'eck, I just took Chersonesus, and it's got factional and regional barracks in place already! Don't need to do much there, even has stone walls. Now to get ready for the assault on the other one.

[QuintusSertorius]

Serious question; what's the best strategy for encouraging the AI to get off it's arse and build some proper armies to fight me? I can circumvent it by just using create_unit and spawning some if need be, but it's not as satisfying as them actually mobilising properly.



I just saw the Seleukids mobilise in my game - to try to take Ankyra. Not to attack me, who they've been at war with for almost five years, and lost numerous settlements to, but some rebels. Needless to say I won't turn down an offer of battle (plus I like rebel buffer zones), but it's not great.

Do I need to give the Seleukids money in the console? Just transport armies to me? Spawn troops in their settlements?

I'm also at war with the Ptolemies, but similarly they're not doing much. What do I need to do to give them a prod?

[QuintusSertorius]

From a historical point of view, they suit your armies better, but they are clearly inferior to classical hoplites in holding the line. Maybe you're right, classical hoplites is a compromise you are forced to make.

I've been doing some more thinking on this point, and I think you're right. Classical Hoplites aren't a compromise I'm forced to make, it's actually an easy way out of recruiting something more like an accurate army, and having a tougher time in battles.

I'm thinking phase out the hoplites as anything more than garrison troops, and use Keltohellenikoi for my main line in their place. Then the hated Theurophoroi on their flanks. Add some Peltastai, perhaps, then Kretan archers, slingers of some description, a few other bits of infantry then cavalry. Perhaps aim for less consistency and uniformity, and more regionalisation of units. I could roleplay it as a military reform taking some of the burden off the Greek citizenry.

Something like this:
4 x Keltohellenikoi
2 x Theurophoroi
1 x Galatian Tindanotae
1 x Karian Uazali

2 x Peltastai
2 x Kretan Archers
2 x Sphendenotai

2 x Hetairoi (Family members)
1 x Asian Light Cavalry
1 x Thracian Prodromoi
1 x Thracian Light Cavalry

Any ideas how to use such an army? I have to admit my tactics seem to come in two strands - either Roman-style checkerboard, or single long line. What else could I do with them?